Improvement in blocks for holding- stereotype-plates



*t ed ANSEL N. KELLOGG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 88,180, dated Ma/rch 23, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLOCK-S FOR HOLDING STEREOTYPE-PLATES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the llamo.

To all whom 'it may conce/ra Be it known that I, ANsnL N. KELLOGG, of Chicago, inthe county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Blocks for Holding Stereotype-Plates; and I do hereby declare and make known that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and 'the letters and figures marked thereon, which form part of this specilication.

`My said invention relates to an improvement in the construction of the blocks upon which removable stereotype or electrotype-plates are secured for thr purpose of permitting a change ofthe printing-nms, as desired; and -f Said invention consists in the application of a spring to said block, in such a manner that it operates, in connection with a dovetailed groove, orvits equivalent, to hold the plates in place securely, while, at the same time, the plates may be readily removed when desired, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable those skilled `in the art to understand how to construct and use my said invention, or improvement, I will proceed to describe the same with particularity,

making reference, in so doing, to the aforesaid drawings,

Figure l represents an end view of' my said invention;

Figure 2 is a side view ofthe same; and

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section thereof.

Similar letters of reference in the several iigures, denote the saine parts of my invention.

-A represents the removable plate, and B, the block upon or to which said plate is secured.

There is formed upon the top of said block B, a lon gitudinal groove, extending from one end nearly to the other end of said block; said groove being provided with re-entrant sides, or points, as shown at b b, in 1, forming a dovetailed way, or groove, in which the plate A, provided with the corresponding outward points, or projections e e, may slide longitudinally, and be held rmly in place so far as a vertical movement, or a longitudinal movement in the direction toward the lip or wall l, is concerned.

Viithinl or below the bottom of the dovetailed groove aforesaid, v'is a longitudinal recess, marked a, in which is arranged a spring, c, its end being secured to the block,fb)7 means of a rivet-bolt, or pin C, or in any other suitable manner.

The recess a permits the spring c, when depressed, to lie wholly beneath the bottom of the aforesaid dovetailed groove, as also the vertical lip d, upon its projecting end; and when said spring is thus depressed, the plate A can readily be inserted or withdrawn; but when the plate is in place, the lip d, upon the spring c, passes up against the end of the plate A, so as to secure it eii'ectually against any longitudinal displacement..

Instead of having the lip d pass up at the end of the plate, as shown, said lip may enter a suitable recess in the under side ofthe plate, to eii'ect the same purpose, in which case it would secure the plate from longitudinal displacement in either direction, thus rendering the lip, or flange l, unnecessary.

Or a spring may be arranged in a vertical recess, D, operating to throw a stop, d, into a suitable recess in the lower side of the plate, which stop can be withdrawn in any suitablemanner, when desired; or the configuration of the recess in the plate may be such that the stop' would enter the recess when the plate was passed in the groove, while, by having the lip l at the heel of the block made movable, the plate could, by removing or depressing said lip Z, be pushed out in the opposite end from that at which it Awas inserted 5 or said spring may be arranged in any other suitable manner to operate upon the plate, and prevent any longitudinal displacement, the dovetailed groove aforesaid, and

said spring, combined, having the effect to retain the plate iirmly in place, both as to vertical, lateral, and

longitudinal movements, as desired.

lhe ordinary mode of securing the removable plates is by means of screws passing through the face of the plates, both defacing and injuring the plates, and being much more inconvenient and difficult in the changing of the plates.

Having described the nature, construction, and operation of my said invention,l will specify what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

I claim the combination of a spring, c, with the block B, when constructed with a longitudinal dovetailed groove, or bed, and the removable plate A, when provided with rebated sides e e, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes herein shown and set forth.

A. N. KELLOGG.'

Witnesses:

W. E. Manns, T. BRUNs. 

